Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Like to call this City of Benton Harvard Commission meeting to order. We rise with an invitation from Commissioner Edward Isim followed by the pledge of allegiance by our city manager, Mr. Alex Little. All rise. Lord, thank you for bringing us to this meeting tonight. Go with us as we discuss city business that we can continue to move this city forward and for the betterment of the residents of this city. Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of American

present. Commissioner Fields present. Commissioner Henderson present. Commissioner Henry present. Commissioner Isam present. Commissioner Canard present. Commissioner Warren present. Mayor Prom Turn Turner present. Mayor Muhammad present. You have a quorum. This brings us to approval of minutes March 16, 2026. Is there a motion for the approval? Motion to approve. Motion is made by by Mayor Pro Tim Turner. Is there a second? Support. It is supported by Commissioner Fields. Madame Clerk. Commissioner Henderson. Yes. Commissioner Henry. Yes. Commissioner Isam, yes. Commissioner Canard, yes. Commissioner Warren, yes. Commissioner Clark Griffin, yes.

Commissioner Fields, yes. Mayor PM Turner, yes. Mayor Muhammad, yes. Motion carried. This brings us to approval of accounts payable listing. Is there a motion for the approval? Support. Motion is made by Commissioner Henderson. Is supported by Mayor Pro Tim Turner. Madame Clerk. Commissioner Henry, no. Commissioner Isam, yes. Commissioner Canard, no. Commissioner Warren, yes. Commissioner Clark Griffin, no. Fields, no. Commissioner Henderson, yes. Turner, no. Yes. [snorts] motion.

This brings us to an update by Representative Joey Andrews. He is not present. This brings us to public participation or citizens comments. Rodney Alexander.

I just want to formally invite everybody to the Gus Michael launch party. Um it's becoming bigger than we actually um expected it to be in a good way. the um Detroit Pistons actually going to actually um partner now with us as well. So, it's becoming a statewide thing now and it's going to be great for the whole city, the whole community, and it's at home. So, I want to make sure it be great. And y'all have any advice or any want to talk about anything, I'm always around. All right. Thank you. Thank you. I'd like to suspend the rules. [snorts] Commissioner Clark Griffin, you're recognized.

I'd like to suspend the rules and make a motion that we call for a forensic audit due to the credit card discrepancy and or not limit to the money and financial discrepancies. Support Madame clerk, is this uh to add it to the agenda to suspend the rules and add this to the agenda? Correct.

Commissioner Isam. Yes. Commissioner Canard. This is Yes. to uh to agree in agreement. Yes. Commissioner Warren, yes. Commissioner Clerk Griffin, yes. Commissioner Fields, yes. Commissioner Henderson, no. Commissioner Henry, yes. Mayor Pam Turner, yes. Mayor Muhammad, no. Motion carried. I'd like to make a motion to suspend the rules. You recognize Commissioner Fields.

I would like to bring back my memo resolution with the revision in regards to actually getting documentation for the meeting by Thursday at noon per policy or either the items will need to be set to the following agenda. Support meeting. Motion made by Commissioner Fields, supported by Commissioner Clark Griffin. Madame Clerk, Commissioner Canard, yes. [snorts] Commissioner Warren, I'm sorry. This is to add that topic to the agenda. Correct. Correct. Right. You want to bring your item back.

Okay. Yes. Yes. Commissioner Clark Griffin. Yes. Commissioner Fields. Yes. Commissioner Henderson. No. Commissioner Henry. Yes. Commissioner Isam. Yes. Mayor Prom Turner. Yes. Mayor Muhammad. No. Motion carried.

I would like to separate for discussion. Agenda item.

Duly noted. Is there a motion for the approval of item number one, appointment to Brownfield redevelopment story? Um, from clarity, I want to How does that work? Do I need to make a motion to suspend this for the next agenda? Because I want clarity on it before we vote. And so how does that missing the appropriate time?

Is there a motion for the approval to appoint for the appointment to the brownfield redevelopment authority of Dylan Barnes? Support. Motions made by Commissioner Henderson is supported by Mayor Pim Turner. Is there discussion?

Yes. I would like to discuss for clarity as to who um Mr. Barnes will be replacing. So, will it be the um later commissioner or the senior commissioner that is on Brownfield currently? Because in the case of Ethel, Commissioner Ethclaw Griffin, she had to leave the library board because she wasn't the commissioner that had been on there the longest. So, for clarity, who will be leaving? Which commissioner? Madame clerk, how many vacancies is there?

So, there are currently no vacancies. There is one term expired and that would be Commissioner Canard's term. Is point of order. Is um Commissioner um Warren's term expired? No, she's current. She is current. Thank you. Question. Was there any other applications um that were submitted for this particular item? Cuz I just received the applications and it's put on on the agenda of of people who have applied for this role. Was there any applications in this?

So when the applications, just for clarity, when the applications come in, they get sent to the mayor's office because the mayor is the one that recommends the appointment to the legislative committee. and Commissioner um Canard's term has expired. Um and Commissioner Dylan Barnes, he applied and we already have a commissioner who is the I believe

treasur of the group and is currently in a active term. So to have more than one commissioner um on that board uh it gives an opportunity for other residents to serve. and uh Dylan Barnes who is a resident, he put forth an application and he was recognized for an an appointment. Chair recognizes Commissioner Fields.

Chair recognizes Mr. Canard.

Yes. Um, as I remember as my term was uh approaching for an end, I did submit a letter to continue and so that was the policy that was in place uh all the time at serving on any of the boards. So I did have mine in and I got no recognition that it was anything uh that had uh transpired that I would even not be accepted. I think even into the first of the year. So, I had served uh I guess you could say just about a half a year into this uh term. So, I'm I'm sort of dumbfounded because um I see some things that just doesn't really make sense to me. I mean, if I'm short or not doing something uh right, let me know. uh when it comes to me serving the term, that would be the reason for dismissing me. But if I'm actively doing the job of what I'm supposed to be, I'm here uh doing the best that I know how to do and working with the board. Why wouldn't it be considered? Why would I have been given that application to be in state? This is what I want to know. Why was I given that? Where's the policy in place that says that uh after I had served that term that I'm two commissioners cannot serve because there's two commissioners serving on almost all of the boards.

Thank you. Chair recognizes Commissioner Fields. Yeah. So this is also a time for transparency because as I had stated prior to even becoming a commissioner the process and I don't understand clerk if you actually answered were there other applicants or it was only Dylan Barnes. I understand you

so I'm sorry through the chair. So, Miss Canard did submit her application for reappoint um as well as Dylan Barnes. And I believe that there was one other applicant who um was recommended a while back to take over one of the previous terms, but never came to legislative for an appointment. Um so, we moved past that one. Okay. And so what I wanted to say was that what we have is um our mayor deciding who can be on committees and when. Um it's not to discredit the role that anybody is playing, but again too, it's fuzzy until it's not. So again, Commissioner Clark Griffin had to leave the library board because Commissioner Isim had been on it longer as a commissioner. So regardless of the roles that the commissioners are playing, it's it's no policy um that a commissioner just has to leave because their term is up and so somebody um has applied. If a commissioner wants to stay on, I don't understand why they can't. And so is it just a decision you want to make, mayor, or can you bring shed some light into that? [snorts]

So, um, Dylan Barnes is a taxpayer. He is a resident. Uh, he, um, is very upstanding in the community. Uh, has been involved with First Start for many, many years. graduate of Ben Harour High School. Uh he is a deacon as well as a board member for Second Baptist Church. Uh he is um prolific in the role of construction uh as well as development uh where he's been a part of many developments and construction projects in the city of Benton Harbor. Um, as far as you noted the library board, uh, Commissioner Clark Griffin, uh, was appointed as a resident. She was not appointed as a commissioner. So, once she became a city council person, Commissioner Edward Isam was already currently serving in a term. So, we would have had to disrupt his term, remove him from the board, and then appoint Commissioner Clark Griffin, which would not have been, [clears throat] you know, um could have incurred some other kind of problems by doing so. So, uh, he continued to serve his term and she was by really virtue um since she was appointed by appointed as a citizen now serving as a commissioner then we appointed another citizen to serve as a citizen rep on the library board. So, in the case of Mrs. Canard or Commissioner Canard, pardon me. Um, Commissioner Warren was appointed uh and now she is serving in her term.

Uh, she's the treasurer on the board. Her name is, I believe, on the account. It is.

So, her name is currently on the account. Um, and Commissioner Canard has been on the board for some time. her term expired and we have two commissioners currently on the brownfield board. A lot of the things if not all of the things that come from the brownfield is voted on by the city commission. So you have a case where you would have two city commissioners voting in two different places on the same item. So, project T, you vote for Project T on the brown field, then it comes to the city commission, and then you vote for it again. So, it's it's it's really, you know, Madame Attorney, can you kind of speak to that, please?

Yeah, it's it's not unusual to have one representative. It's a little more unusual to have two. What I don't have before me and what I haven't done um prior to this meeting is talk to the Brownfield Authorities's um manager. I would need to talk to them to see their bylaws just to make sure that they allow two commissioners for the reason of the double votes because you're voting at two different levels. Um it's generally and and this works in the planning commission too where you have one of your commissioners that serves on the planning commission but you only have one. You don't have more than one. So, I just I would like to I would like that opportunity to make sure um that you can have two commissioners on the Brownfield Authority. That's not something I've looked into before. So what it does is it gives a resident an opportunity to serve on that board fully where like I said whatever the brownfield passes must come to the city commission if it's related to development in the city which both would you know both commissioners would still be able to have their voice heard and vote on it but what happens is if we have two sitting committ commissioners on the brownfield both voting on those items, then it it it dilutes or it removes a citizen's voice from being present and being able to vote and be a part of that brownfield process. So, I would rather have a city commissioner one at least who's going to vote on it anyway do so from the city commission seat as opposed to from a brownfield seat and a city commission seat and we keep a resident from serving on the board. So that was my thinking behind why I chose

a resident to serve or be considered by this commission to be on the brownfield. Recognizes Commissioner Clark Griffin.

First of all, let me just say my son has been on Brownfield for several years too and I think he was up in May. Nobody contact him for his reappoint either. So I guess he was not reconsidered again too. And let me speak on as far as the being on the Ben Alaba Public Library board. I believe at the time Commissioner is had been on the board seven years. I had already been on the board six years. And to say that uh I was taken off cuz not two two commissioners couldn't serve. We had already served in that capacity together for a whole year after I became a commissioner. So I mean after a year the light bulb after we both was serving the light bulb came on all of a sudden and let me just speak to the brownfield authority. It's been times uh since uh commissioner Canard and Commissioner Warren been on the brownfield there was three commission because miss comm former commissioner Mary Adams she was been on it. It was three of them. So now all of a sudden it can't be more than one and and commi and then commissioner warren and commissioner um canad's been on it what every about three two two at least two years together including with former commissioner Adams. So like I said make no sense. These to me are used as retaliatory ways. When you don't do what the mayor want or you don't vote, then he tried to find ways to, you know, I guess kind of somewhat think it's punishing you. Uh cuz these are not accents. And then he spoke on Dylan Bond is an outstanding citizen, which he is, but so is Commissioner Kanage, too, and she's um has education in her field, too, and she's valuable. So all these excuses are useless to me. Um and I think we should

I know we should change we will be visiting that to change this cuz the mayor should not have that power to just pick and choose if he like you or not to pass you through to get to us to vote. So just for a point of clarity I do not believe that Commissioner Warren you did you serve with Commissioner Adams? So when I was elected, that's the year that Commissioner Adams was not reelected. So we were not We served in theory together, but not as commissioners. Thank you. You and Commissioner as commissioner two still.

Madame Clerk, just for the record, when was um Commissioner Canard's term up? October of last year. I do not know right off the top of my head. I think it was October of last [clears throat] year

which has been uh I've served almost a half a year into the term and once before that I this was done to me. So I don't see any policies when I even was appointed to these uh these particular things that was in place in black and white. I'd never even heard of this happening, but I do know that uh at one time even serving uh and they wanted me off of one of the boards, they were telling me about I couldn't owe any money to the city. And I only owed $75 just for the water bill. But then one of the others that had been here, he owed almost three three or $400 on his. So when I made it an issue that I was going to uh make a issue of it of the two then uh Kimberly told me she says all right Miss Kennardis all right so there is an actual beef in me serving in some of these terms and I don't call her name be because I think it would be unethical for me to do that but uh the same thing is happening again and again that's why I am uh fighting this here. I have served and I've done everything that I knew that was right. I've uh served the city as much as possible. I have uh worked with different ones children with the the garden. I've tried to clean up and push every way that I know in this city. So, anybody that just about can talk to you and they'll tell you that I'm upstanding citizen here in the community. So, I think it's a personal thing. Miss Canard, I can tell you personally and professionally and politically, it's not personal. Uh, I appointed you to every board that you served on, and this goes back to

2016 where I've I've appointed you on at least five boards. And, you know, this is my third term in the last two years. Uh you've served on income tax board, brownfield board, planning commission board, um and you know, I can't think of all of them, but I appointed you. So it's not personal. This gives a resident an opportunity and somebody new and different to serve. And as I stated, we already have another commissioner representing the city's interest on that board. And you will see whatever the brownfield passes, you will vote on it in the city commission. So this is just an opportunity from my perspective to give a resident an opportunity to serve on this board. I would like to know if you can, madam uh attorney, just if you could just look into the the bylaws of the brownfield to see is there a stipulation between, you know, how many commissioners can serve on that board. Um and I do want to recognize Commissioner Henderson.

Thank you, Honorable Mayor. Um I just like to uh I have a couple comments. Um as a matter of fact, I think we just need to call for the question for this particular issue. And I also like to bring up the fact the language [laughter] that I've heard tonight about we will going to change suggest a round robin and also suggest OMA and I would ask that you clarify that we should not have round robins or OMAs because of the language that I've heard tonight suggest that it was so please clarify that OMA round robin should not happen and so that we can clarify that that that shouldn't case for anything that we're voting on and I and I actually I think we should just call for the question and go from there cuz as the mayor stated, if we don't want residents to serve on the board, then we just need to vote get vote no and do what we're going to do. And I, as a matter of fact, call for the question.

Madame clerk, there's still discussion. You can call for the question while we still having discussion. I can. And I had my hand up for discussion still. Could you please share the rules around calling for the question, please? So I believe to call for the question when there's still discussion there needs to be a second. A second.

This roll call vote will be to call for the question. Commissioner Warren, yes. Commissioner Clark Griffin, no. Commissioner Fields, no. Commissioner Henderson, yes. Commissioner Henry, no. Commissioner Isam, yes. Commissioner Canard, no. Mayor Prom Turner, no. Mayor Muhammad, yes. Motion failed. Chair recognizes Mayor Pro Tim Turner.

Through the chair, through the city attorney. I think we should table this here until the city attorney have reviewed the bylaws and policies with the city because we passing stuff through here. There's no policies. We're outdated on policy. The city attorney have not reviewed it. I'm not I'm not going to approve anything that our attorney have not reviewed. So, I make a motion that we table this agenda, send it back to committee, allow the city manager and the attorney to review this here. That way, we are clear on all moving forward.

Second support. Motion's made by Mayor Pro Tim Turner. Second by Commissioner Clark Griffin. Madame Clerk. Commissioner Warren.

No. This is to No. Commissioner Clerk Griffin. Yes. Commissioner Fields. Yes. Commissioner Henderson. Is this to table this item? Correct. Yes. Commissioner Henry? Yes. Commissioner Isam? Yes. Commissioner Canard? Yes. Mayor Pro Tim Turner. Yes. Mayor Muhammad. No. Motion carried. This brings us to here's some other um items that was brought forth and I'll just yield to whoever is going to bring their item.

I don't have any documentation. And I don't have any nothing is on the agenda of what these different items that were brought forth. So whoever brought the item that you want to be entertained for, you can you you are recognized. Commissioner Clark Griffin, if you talking about me suspending the rules to call for forens audit, uh it don't have to be on there. Uh that's why it's called suspend the rules. You vote immediately for that. And we already voted. No, that's not the um protocol. Commissioner Clark Griffin, I got both two Robert books right here and I've lived with it 30 years for UAW. You voted to add it to the agenda.

Okay. So So once it's added to the agenda and that's that's the first vote. Then the second vote is to make a motion to uh vote or have discussion on that item. That's where we are now. So I'm yielding to you to bring forth your item. I definitely will discuss it. No problem. So when we had the audit coming, is it a first of all, is there a motion for it to for the approval of what?

To call for a forensic audit due to the credit card discrepancies and not to exclude the money and financial discre discrepancies. Is there a second? Second. Motion's made by Commissioner Clark Griffin, second by Commissioner Fields. Is there discussion? I discuss it if we have to. The chair recognizes Commissioner Clark Griffin.

Okay. As you know, when we had the audit recently, um I brought out like nine different issues that we had with the credit card. We had um items made, transaction with no preapproval. We had um missing receipts, purchases made with no receipts. Uh we had some names on the card that was not supposed to be the names on as far as the policy states. We had it was like a whole lot of different issues and everybody that's listening here today can look back on it. Um but it was like nine different issues but those were some of the top issues and those were very very important issues. And as far as uh money and financial discrepancies, as you know, we still got that $100,000 that's been missing from the um cemetery. We still got those checks that nobody know where they are. We still have um first we are in the red, then we're not in the red. So we got a lot of discrepancy going on with the money. And then we had another meeting where we found out we were told when we transferred the last Ara money that that was all of it. But we found out at another meeting that interest had accured. So we got um 200 I believe it was $270,000 it was 2000 some thousand interest or a money that we can still use for a for purchases as a uh it the list goes on and on. So those all those discrepancy plus more that's why I made the motion to suspend the rule and call for forensic audit.

So Mr. Manager I do ask uh what was the cost of the audit that we just currently had? For me $60,000 this current audit that we had. So what would be the cost of a forensic audit? I have no idea. I'm sure it would be higher. Madame Attorney, can you speak to a forensic audit and and the kind of possibly cost differences between the regular audit that we just conducted?

Yes. So, it sounds to me like you want a very specific forensic audit. You're not talking about looking at every single thing. You're talking about looking at specific things that were outlined. Um that's why I say due to the credit card that is the main issues not to exclude the other issues too but the main one of the main ones that was like enough right there was nine different issues that I called out then.

So I can tell you forensic audits are very expensive. I working on one in another community and I believe it came in at 24,000 just to look at some um very focused issues. I don't know if it's something where you would want to amend the motion to get um get quotes for that or if it's something you want to move forward with. I don't know if that's in your budget if you have the money that it can be found somewhere. I don't know that right off the top of my head, but I could suggest that you move forward with getting quotes for the next meeting perhaps so that you have an idea. What I don't want to have happen is for you to move forward with it and it, you know, it's $70,000. I can't tell you what it's going to cost right off the top of my head. I know it will be expensive.

So suspending the rules, it's not supposed to be debatable. It's not supposed to be amended either. So I don't know why we having a debate when we voted yes a court. And also we find money for everything else. We got a lot of money in income tax we've been transferring. Then we found out we got 270 what,000 a interest plus we got money constantly coming in. And we got I can keep laming the list of money coming in. So if we talking maybe 24,000 whatever compared to all these money discrepancy and financial and credit card issues, I think it's well worth it. Why are we debating it

when according to Robert's rule, we're not even supposed to debate it or also try to amend it as the city attorney just said. I call for the question. Um, Madame Attorney, I just I just want to point out for the record, you're I'm not against what you're asking. I actually think it's a good idea and I think you should probably do it. I just want to point out you don't have any budget for it right now and we don't know what it's going to cost. It's a legislative decision. It's not a legal decision. It's a legislative decision if you feel comfortable making the motion to move forward without having any cost consideration. I call for the question.

Um, a motion is made by com uh Commissioner Fields is supported by that was made by me. But you talking about the she talking about something else. She just called for the question. Okay, that's what you're talking about. Well, support. I don't think that there was any um other discussion. So, we can move with calling with for the question. So, we will vote on this item. Commissioner Clark Griffin, absolutely. Yes. Commissioner Fields, yes. Commissioner Henderson, no. Commissioner Henry, yes. Commissioner [snorts] Isam,

no. Commissioner Canard, yes. Commissioner Warren, no. Mayor Prom Turner, yes. Mayor Muhammad. No. Motion carried.

There was another item that was brought by Commissioner Fields in the suspension of the rules. Um I yield to Commissioner Fields. So again um on this good Monday I wanted to reference the importance of having information um for discussion to vote on and things of that nature in advance. Previously I asked for Wednesday because I hadn't went to a training and say Niles does theirs or get their information by Wednesday. So what I did was to not have to go to legislative. I'm just stressing for us to actually follow the policy where it's Thursday at noon and if the items are not in by noon then it would need to be put on the next agenda the next the following what first or third Monday.

I have no no other is there any other question. Is that legal to ask a question? No, no, no. Go. Uh, Commissioner Warren is recognized. I just want to make sure I'm understanding the request. So, if there you're saying if there is an issue or something that's urgent that comes up at 2:00 on Thursday, you're saying we would not be able to adjust the agenda whatsoever. Is that what the your proposal is?

If it is, um, I want us to follow policy. Um, so it's Thursday at noon if it's something that it needs time to be reviewed. So like again, one of the reasons I brought it up too is because our last agenda and items we got at Saturday at what 1:00 in the morning. So if that's an emergency um, and it was something for us, that's not enough time. I may not even be in seen it. So I do want it by noon on Thursday. I don't know how the emergencies will happen. And so I don't want to put that in my motion. Chair recognizes city clerk.

So I guess I just want to ask for a clarification that you're asking for the agenda packets to be sent out on Thursday. Correct. Right. Can you find it in policy? I can. So the according to the city commission policy and procedures under distribution agenda packets will be provided to commission members at least 48 hours before the scheduled regular meeting or at least [snorts] 12 hours before a scheduled special meeting. So so in order to change that we would need to change the council rules.

Right. That's not the let me pull it up. So, if what else you're asking, what you might be referencing is the agenda material that has to be into mine and the city manager's office by that deadline in order to get on the agenda. So, I think that's where you're getting to us also. [snorts] No. So th that's for staff or anybody that has agenda items for um a meeting needs to be in by that time to our office so that we can prepare the agenda to go out.

So So that's why that's why I wanted clarification. If you're asking for the agenda to be distributed on Thursday, then the council rules would have to be changed. Yes, that helps. That helps. I still wanted um because we do not get it. And again, I understand or have been has been explained multiple times that little has lots going on. It it can be urgent. I know that's how a lot of times things are brought to agendas that it's not appropriate. So, say for example, a nuisance order was brought to legislative versus public safety and public works for a discussion appropriately because it was a hurry. It's often that's the case. So, we need time to do that. And so, I thought I was rescending it and and not trying to have it where it's Wednesday and it's something extensive, but at least by Thursday because Friday and Saturday isn't ideal, especially if we have to look it over and then hope someone responds back for clarity when um individuals are off on the weekend that we would necessarily speak with. Chair recognizes Commissioner Anderson.

Just for clarification, um the um ordinances, the nuisance ordinances or any ordinances is is supposed to go through legislative committee first, then bounces to the other committees to look at them. And so, um with those particular ordinances, it may not be how it, but that's what is supposed to happen. They're supposed to go through the legislative committee and then bounce bounce to those other committees. I'm not sure. Yeah, that's the question recognizes Commissioner Clark Griff and two I just to uh reiterate on what uh Commission said. I think she was referring to um page seven of the policy and procedure uh where it say agenda material. It said the deadline for submitting all supporting data for agenda item is 12 noon on the Tuesday preceding the Monday commission meeting. Any agenda item not submitted in its entirety by Tuesday at noon will be pulled from the agenda and postponed until the next uh regular commission agenda cuz there's been time when we waiting on the agenda package. And I know the city clerk has been waiting on people to give some of the items to be on there. So this says that if it ain't in by 12:00 noon that it has to be in postpone to the next agenda meeting. So I believe correct me commissioner fields. If I'm wrong that's what you was talking about

right that it is and I can pull it up too. So, just for clarity, um according to the ordinance, um the mayor, the city manager, and two commissioners can put something on the agenda. So, but of course, you know, we have the committee structure in place, which committee meetings are on Wednesday, uh for the public to be included in the process to be able to give input, uh be informed, uh it be vetted, um so you know, things are announced appropriately. Um and after Wednesday night then that's why Thursday was selected where the clerk and the staff can um take the items from the Wednesday evening um committee meeting which sometimes goes to 8 9 10:00 and in and worst case scenario and they um provide the information to the city council and the um staff and public um [clears throat] in the best way on a Thursday definitely by Friday in some cases given the uh item it could be Saturday I've even seen Monday uh and then of course in some cases like tonight uh the rules were suspended to bring items from the floor. So there's a many different ways that items reach the agenda for vote. Uh the council rules is there to just provide some structure uh and to provide some

[snorts] um continuity and consistency of how items are placed on the agenda. Um, so, you know, without anything in writing in terms of what we're actually voting on, um, I'm just totally totally in the dark in terms of what exactly is being presented, what exactly is the language that is going to alter or change the council rules. chair recognizes uh Commissioner Henry.

Thank you, Mayor. Um what I see is going on is somebody recognized the problem and they're trying to fix it. So, I'll just add my little bit to it because I'm going to add on to it. If we're getting our information for the agenda item and we get no background information from for for for from anyone from anyone in staff, it's just a line item on the agenda. We come in here and we get it. We may have something and we may not. So that myself I think that is a big problem let alone the time that we get it. If if the clerk if staff can't get it to clerk in time with background information then there's that there's a big problem to me. So if we can't fix it with a resolution or changing our policies right here and now and we've got this elephant in the room, we know that there is a problem here. And if if that resolution is not solving the problem, let's figure out what will solve the problem. Otherwise, we're going to be stagnated. And we should not be stagnated. We should be moving, moving, moving. Ma,

Madam Attorney, is there a process to change the council rules? I would think that yes, you could do it the way that you're talking about right now. Um, I don't know how they were adopted originally, but we would have to go back to look at that and then amend them the same way that they were adopted. I would assume they were adopted by resolution. Um it sounds like I I want to make sure if if it's okay to speak. Can I ask what section um Commissioner Clark Griffin you were looking at to see exactly how much we need to change?

Page seven, policy and procedure. Section agenda. Um yeah, at number four, page seven, section on the agenda, [clears throat] it starts with preparation number one. And this is number two that I read that I think Commissioner Fields uh were speaking on to about if it's not turned in certain time, it goes to the other agenda. And why? And let me just say also the mayor said that uh he didn't see any paper. Commissioner Fields brought the paper and the resolute and the memo the last time when she tried to pass. So there was paperwork. Um so me as far as I'm concerned called for the question. is so weird.

Voting on it again. I mean, cuz I don't see nothing in front of me that that's what I'm voting on other than what people have said over the microphone and it's been a lot said. So, Madame Clerk, what exactly is the language that's being voted on at this time, the resolution? Can I defer that to Commissioner Fields? that is presenting this item.

You don't have it from Okay. And then I can pull it up and email it out. But it was the same thing that you gave me a a whole lot of insight on on last time that um you couldn't change policy. So now was that it goes to committee for to change things to be changed and vetted and I said I understand Wednesdays it would be a lot. It'd be extensive. Can so can we just follow what is in policy which it said 12 noon on Thursday. Tell me where you confuse that. I mean typically a resolution Commissioner Fields is in writing. But it doesn't have to be right. She

I mean if you're talking about transparency and but closure and and you know what we're voting on then it should be in writing and it Yep. It could be and it should be presented to the residents, the people should be presented to the media just exactly as you're saying the process. Yes, that's the process. Okay. So, I'm not doing that process. There's other processes that's available. I'm using the one. So, what what's the language that's being finished?

You you being real rude and you confuse and everything now when it's not you leading it and calling tagging on people to kind of support your information. You being real rude right now because you know what I'm asking about. Last time I asked for Wednesday because I saw and noted that other communities are able to do it. We read in the mail Niles other community, they also actually get dialogue from their city manager even before that. So I didn't want to put any more work on the clerk or even have to go through legislative being petty. I'm just asking so that it can then be followed policy. That's what we're trying to do right now. It is Thursdays at noon. Are you still confused? because I feel like you're being a real condescending and I don't feel like I'm asking for a lot.

Madam clerk, what's the current I thought it was Thursday at noon. It's Thursday at noon for um agenda supporting agenda items to be submitted. It is to your office. It's 48 hours for distribution of the agenda. Okay. So, what are we trying to change here? No, Thursday. Thursday at noon. that you want the agenda items distributed to the city commission. Yes. Okay. So then the council rules would need to be um amended. The the 48 hours the 48 hours would would technically be Saturday. We're if we're talking 48 hours prior to the meeting.

So the 48 hours would need to be amended. the the council policy and procedures already requires information to be um to the city clerk by noon on Thursday. So, you're just asking that that be followed, right? And that the packet be distributed earlier than 48 hours, right? And so maybe we do need to go through because maybe it shouldn't be a weekend, right? So maybe the 48 hours should be like weekday hours because say for example, we have a lot of question for the city manager. Will he be working? Will the clerk be working? We probably do need to revisit that.

I mean, I'm just I just want to be clear on what exactly because it sounds like what's being presented is already what's being done. it would just be a a tweak or just a minor change to because if Thursday at noon is the deadline, um but as the clerk said, 48 hours is extended as grace to get it out to the media, the public, and to the council. So, if that's what you want changed, then we would just have to alter the council rules. Uh but typically unless the clerk is getting information late, she does get it out by Friday, you know. So I think there's a few different ways uh to bite or or eat eat the elephant, you know, but I I want to be supportive. I really do. So, but I I would like to just be clear on what the change is. That way, you know, we're we're it's we're clear moving forward.

So, Thursday at noon, I would like the items to be able to look them over, ask questions of staff members or whoever is putting things on the docket basically. Madame Clerk,

so I just also want to clarify that all of the items that go on the agenda go to committee. So technically you get those Tuesday, Wednesday. Um, and the reason that the commission agenda does go out at the time frame that it does is because the finance department has to get the AP list together. So that's normally the last thing that comes in before the agenda goes out. So when you send the a we able to talk freely or do I have to go through the chair and I want to do pro I mean it's appropriate but you are recognized.

Appreciate it. So um what I'm So what are you saying that we get I'm talking about when we get our packets what are we getting prior to we get a packet? You said we already get it on Tuesdays for the committee meetings because typically everything that appears on the commission agenda goes through committee. So all of those items and supporting documents get sent out with the committee agendas. But do we know what's going to be on the agenda though? Well, it would depend on if the committee sends it forward to the city commission,

right? So I just would like to have it. So if it's already if we've already got it, send it on out. I'm I'm confused. What What's the problem? If we already didn't had it before at some juncture, okay, just put it all out at noon so we'll be clear and not have to wait for another email. Did that pass? And because I I I don't think it's hard. It's not Wednesday night. So, you know what you have now. We know what's to move forward. So, can we just have it packaged?

You know, I I um I I support that. Um, I would just say, and I'm going yield to Commissioner Warren, that it sounds like we need a retreat where we can hash out, you know, more in a in a outside of this form to resolve some of the questions and and make some of the changes uh that need to be made, you know, given that this is a new commission. um [clears throat] and we want to maybe change some things uh moving forward, but I want to recognize Commissioner Warren and then after her, Mayor Pro Tim Turner.

Thank you. So, my question may be maybe more for Tiffany. Is it possible? So, I want you to be honest. Is it possible to even get the agenda on Thursday at 12? because if it's not possible and you don't say that if I don't know if he can answer chair recognizes commissioner excuse me uh clerk Moore so it is possible to get the agenda with all of the items that have been through committee on Thursday um just knowing that the agenda will have to follow up revised with the AP when that comes in

I do want to recognize the city manager who is responsible for uh agenda items as well.

I just wanted to mention that often times a bottleneck really comes at my station because of other duties that have to be performed. uh if for instance we're here Wednesday night until 9 or 8:30 or whatever the um the third Thursday of every month I start off at the airport uh for airport board meeting that ends in just in time for me to get to joint sewage board and that runs until about 1:00 and uh you you got to remember that this is still as I keep pointing about one person doing this stuff at at my at my particular station and it all requires time.

Mayor Pro Tim Turner. So the city manager got three secretaries. He have Rona Rona Kiier and city clerk. So I don't understand why we can't get off at noon then if he have three secretaries that can help him review these items. Do you expect them to make decisions? It has already gone through committee Mr. Manager. So once it go through committee and the commission's on our committee we say hey we approve it to the full body. Why do you have to reapprove it again? If I don't even come to the building, when am I going to get the information to them?

On Wednesday night when you at committee sitting over there, for example, on this coming Wednesday, I have a list of items that we need to be discussing during public safety public works committee and you sit right there and you listen to us talk about it. that they say meat and potato night. So when you get it on Wednesday night, I don't understand why Thursday morning during your time here and there you have to reapprove something again be just a matter of putting it together. I thought if I'm at the if I go directly from home to

I board when am I going to do that? If I can just add, I mean, you know, the legislative side is the city commission, the administrative side is a city manager and staff. And if it's going to be a success, then both have to work together. And I think that we have to give some difference to staff. the manager's office, the assistant city manager and clerk, the city attorney may be reviewing something. So, I I I would presume positive intentions that the goal would be to get all information to the agenda and to the proper and appropriate places at whatever time is designated. And in the event that it does not happen, you know, hopefully more so so or not than so, then, you know, we can just continue to work together and to move things forward. Uh I don't think that we live in a perfect world where everything happens as we plan and it should. Um just like budgets are are you know amended and fluid and and and things change you know people do and and agendas as well as we can see tonight. Uh so madame clerk again what and what is being changed and what is the language? The current language is that the agenda packets will be provided to the commissioners at least 48 hours before

the scheduled regular meeting. The ask is that they be provided on Thursday at noon. You say that's possible. It's possible as long as it comes from committee. nothing, you know, is expected to be added to anything that comes from that Wednesday committee and that the AP will be released later.

So, I just want to say for in the event that because again, that's the perfect war uh world right there. But as you can see tonight, in some cases, the rules are suspended. In some cases, things may come up on Friday that need to be added. Um and the mayor, city manager, and two city commissioners can add something to the agenda at any time. That's part of our, you know, but for the sake of transparency and openness and inclusion, the the perfect process will be to get it to you by Thursday at noon. I call for the question.

So, is there some way we can you can maybe have what the old rules were blotted out and then sent out with what the new language is, which is typically how a change is made. Yeah, we can redline it and send it out and then send out a regular final format. Thank you. I will work on that as soon as I can. Been called. I'll second. I have a list.

Uh so the um question has been called by Commissioner Clark Griffin and it is second by uh Commissioner Henderson. Uh Madame Clerk, we'll go to the vote. Commissioner Fields. Yes, Commissioner Henderson. No, Commissioner Henry. Yes, Commissioner Isam. Yes, Commissioner Canard. Yes, Commissioner Warren. No. Commissioner Clerk Griffin, yes. Mayor Prom Turner, yes. Mayor Muhammad, no. Motion carried. This brings us to um staff comments. Public safety director McInness.

Good evening all our talk on Wednesday. Chair recognizes city attorney um Synica. Thank you honorable mayor. No report tonight. The chair recognizes assistant city manager and city clerk Moore. Thank you. Um, I just want to make everybody aware that you may hear over the next couple weeks about a May election. And I just want all residents to know that the city will not have a May election. Um, some municipalities are having proposals or school elections, but there will be no election for the city in May. The chair recognizes the city manager.

The chair recognizes Commissioner Fields. Um I would like to thank those that are um present as well as those that are online. I would ask that um members get involved. We understand that the committee process where is where is it whichever one you're applying to be on how that process works is without checks and balances necessarily. It is you apply it goes to the clerk. it then goes to the mayor to decide who or if to move that person on in particular. And then for example, I have a counterpart Tamika White that applied for legislative and I confirmed with the clerk that it had been I don't know like a a at least a year or so and had got a call and it was still a opening on um the seat at the time. Um and she was even open to being on other boards but had not had any um I hear I hear

Yeah, I do too. I do too. Commissioner, do can I reclaim my time? Absolutely.

So, so um again I wanted to thank um those that are um here or either watching online. You ready for me? And I want to encourage individuals to get involved. Come and be present. Um, learn how you can play a role. You don't have to be the perfect fit, right? You need to be a citizen that want to be involved. That's actually how I started. And one of the reasons I even ran was because when I was just having programs and doing different things, I was pat on the head. But then when I had a question, it's like, oh, that's not that's not your wheelhouse. Stay out of that. Right? And it starts I don't know anybody that came in knowing everything. I do not. Some some of the history you wouldn't even want to know, right? Um but we can learn and I feel too that can happen if we had more of a mentorship versus conviction when you ask for clarity or ask for changes that can help you better perform or to follow policy for that matter. And so we have been bre retreat have been referenced but I think we should start retreating now right being respectful. Um the energy changes when it's a question or it's something different you know when it's it's going smooth or it's in agreement with what's already being said. It there's you don't you don't sense any change but then it's oh I'm confused or what was that again? and it a real demeaning for that matter, right? Because even if it was something where um I wasn't asking it right, it's a different way to say that instead of like, oh, you're confusing me, try again. Whereas, again, I asked about this the previous meeting. I was open to receive the information as to, okay, you can't change that or it would be a lot for um it to be out on a Wednesday being we have evenings meetings. cuz I'm like,

"Okay, I'm not trying to be complicated." And then just to still almost try to be shut down again, I I feel it's not fair. I feel it's not welcoming. It's not a mentorship style or even being respectful for that matter. And it's one too many, right? And if I was uh dicel or bothered or forgetting my why, then I would be put back or retreat. But I'm not doing that. And so I want you guys to know that again I am learning. I didn't run on, oh I'm a politician and I know everything. I don't dream to be a politician. I want to be a community advocate and stand in the gap and be present. And then I'm smarter than a third grader, right? I have bachelors, right, and and lots of trainings. And I would like to make that known as well because I'm not just a person that has programs. Um, but I won't get into that because I know uh Commissioner Clark Griffin may have a longer resume than me. So we're not going to do that. But again, I am here for you guys and I want you to be a part involved and see what's happening. We get a lot of action when people are here. We get a lot of clarification and more explaining than being shut down always when people are present. So, please keep coming. Advocate for yourself if no one else. And again, I appreciate you guys for voting for me.

Chair recognizes Commissioner Clark Griffin.

Hello everybody. [laughter] I'd like to thank everybody for coming out tonight. I like to thank everybody that's listening. Um, and I'm excited. We're moving forward. We we voted some changes. Uh, we're going to get that forensic audit so we can find out what's really going on with the credit cards and all the other financial discrepancy cuz we hear one thing, then the next week it's another thing. So, I'm excited about that. Uh, I'm glad to see Dab Harris who is running for Congress. He was part of my cleanup. We had another successful the fifth Fourth Word Alliance fifth annual cleanup uh spring clean up and uh it was great and he worked. He really worked. I had to say don't go down in there. Don't go there. I don't want to see future Congress we predict uh to you know get hurt on not on my watch. So, I want to thank you. You know, he did a great job and it was successful and I'm glad to see Jeff Nuen. I've been knowing this young man for years. He's outstanding young man and does doing great things. So, I'm just excited about everything that's going on. I'm excited about the Gus Maker. Good to see Mr. Alexander. Great job. And I'm glad it's even going to be bigger. Um the next theme forward alliance is going to be our annual our fifth annual resource fair community giveaway and fall cleanup which is going to be August the 22nd and I'm excited about it. We got I got some little things in between. I'm just excited about this year. God bless. Have a good night. that she'll recognize is the third war commissioner Henry.

I just hate going behind her cuz she's always on point for something. But [clears throat] I don't want to say that. We're talking a retreat now. I've been through a lot of retreats and I went through my file cabinet and I pulled out everyone every retreat that we went to. We went out of town, in town, just all sorts of places for a retreat. Now, most of us was not on in any of those retreats, but I could pull up five items on every one of those re retreats that we came up with as goals, the same five items. So, I'm I'm thinking to myself, why do we have to reinvent anything if those same items are there from 2009 to now, then we should look at those five items and move on it and make it happen. And I want to thank the commission for voting, the way they voted with conscience and change in mind. Um the council rules were put together by the state of Michigan in 2012 and it was geared towards a mayorrun government. They put it on the ballot. They thought they could they would fool the citizens of Ben Harour to vote for it and it didn't happen. and quite a few things they tried to change, but the citizens of Ben Harour showed up and

showed out. So now we're working under these policies and procedures that the state of Michigan left for us. Here's where our problem is. And if we can get it on the agenda, it's been on the agenda for the last 10 years. and commissioner um the chair of legislation would play games and push and not push it forward. So, I'm asking that we put it back on the agenda, look at the policies and procedures that we have and and look at the old policy before the state came in and took over and make the necessary changes. That's the only way this board, this council is gonna function, right, is we get back to where how our charter says. So, thank you for bringing the question up and thank you for putting it on the agenda. Uh, legislative committee, I'm hoping that you do it. If you don't do it, we'll know that you flubbed up again.

Thank you. chair recognizes Commissioner Canard.

Thank you, mayor, and thank each and every last one of you that are here tonight. I always say that don't care how long you go and be discomfortable, you pray long enough, God begins to unveil that comfort. And I feel pretty good tonight. I see some things that needed to been changed as I was uh just a resident, but I thought that I would get active in the political end of it to try to help make things better and be a part of the change for the better of the community. And I thank God for those that elected me. So, they elected me and I want to stand in place to do the right thing and to get questions that they have answered. I did ask for an answer that the $15,000 that was uh given to the homeless, where is that money? And I was told that that money was given back. and I asked for documentation if it was given back to give us an answer as to why it was given back that it was not honored for what it was supposed to have been for. So, I'm asking again if you would have that to be maybe something that happened that it didn't get through, but I would like that question to be answered and I would like for it to be answered so that the community many times that come to me for answers that that question be answered. Why was it given back? Because it was supposed to been given to the homeless. And I thank the Lord that I got a chance to tour the city. Now we're getting the streets fixed, drains and everything being fixed. And we took a tour of the city and I was quite

depressed because sometime I watch YouTube and they said the city of Benton Harour is one of the worst cities to live in. Don't care how we get things fixed and done. If we don't get the maintenance and upkeep of it, it's going to resort back to failure. And then there says the people, well, we got a million dollars worth of equipment over there. And they said, well, we don't have we don't have the people available to get these things cleaned up. We've got to find a way. That's a part of your managing your home or whatever. you find a way to get these things done to upkeep and see that you're working to try to uh keep your home um up and looking right as if there's someone in place to see that these things are taken care of. So, we've just got to do better. And they say a lot of time the residents are not doing this that and the other. But when is the city itself going to be held responsible for what they are supposed to do? the many vacant lots that belong to the city is a complete mess. There's trees falling, limbs, other kind of debris that's in those places. We've got to do better about our city. We people, there's many of us, we really love our city, but one or two people cannot go out there and do what the city is being paid to do. So, with all that equipment there, we need to get them busy with it. And one other thing that I want to uh mention, they said that they had a surplus of money when I came in. I've been in for uh two years all uh right at two years. Where's that surplus of money when we in the in the red so far? So, I'm thinking that uh Commissioner Ethel

Clark Griffin brought up a great point that we need to go in depths because when the mayor said that said that uh we had a surplus of money, but now the money is gone. We got to go into other parts of getting money. That bothers me. So, we got to get busy and do things uh accordingly. Thank you. The chair recognizes commission, excuse me, mayor pro Tim Turner. Thank you. So, I am very disappointed on this agenda here because we were supposed to have a closed session tonight in January.

We was told to do a foul evaluation form. I did that as a elected official. Come February 11th, we I was told make sure you turn it in by deadline, February 14th. Took care of duly noted. Come March 11th, hey, on the first commission meeting in April, we have it. Then I'm told, oh, newly elected commissioners, you cannot evaluate the city manager. There's no policy in state of Michigan. There's no case law. There's nothing. So, I want to be very clear tonight. I did contact my lawyer. I am moving forth with a proceeding because I would not allow where our city manager cannot be evaluated. I'm evaluated daily by our residents on social media who have questions. We were told to call the city manager, email him, he'll get an answer to our residents. That's disrespectful. I have over 10 emails the city manager have not responded back. That is unfair. We have residents calling down here who were saying that the city manager has been disrespectful. Last year, a resident came down here and said the city manager was disrespectful to them and said this is not the welfare line. We will not tolerate that in Ben Harbor. No more. No ifs, no buts. I have nothing against city manager, but that is not how we run Ben Harbor. It's nothing personal. Ben Harbor is a business and we must respect our residents. We have too many outdated policies of Ben Harbor. Over and over I ask what policies are outdated? I don't want to see our our staff being micromanaged or any none of that. So if our staff been micromanaged, it ain't come to an end immediately. There is no more ifs about this here. I'm not playing them kind of games. So again, when we ask for our agenda package, it's not saying the city

manager can't updo his job. He have three secretaries who can assist him. Even the city attorney said something about that a couple weeks ago. So this is not like the commission speaking on him. He told me in his emails, I am a worthless or whatever it may be. I'm stressing him out because I email too much. Come on now. I'm asking for clarity because the res asking me. So if me asking for clarity from the residents, maybe we should tell the residents tonight, oh that Mr. Turner is emailing the city commission and the city manager too much. It is stressing the city manager out. I'm not going to be quiet no more. I do not agree with a treat. will retreat unless it is open to the public and not recorded. That is the only way I'm going to agree to retreat.

Chair recognizes Commissioner Warren.

Thank you, Mayor. Thank everyone for coming out. Um, I have a couple of just my comments to give to the public. The first one is it's not about who can r everybody up because ringing people up is not going to be effective and a lot of times it's not going to bring about change. I feel like the city listens to a lot of things. They don't have specific information. They don't has have as we say in the hood receipts. So look for proof. You know if you're gonna listen to hearsay make sure you got some proof behind it. The next thing I'm going to talk about is in general to approve something and not have a cost is unreasonable. And if you vote for me as a commissioner, I want to act reasonably. I'm not going to go and buy a car without knowing the price. So why would I do anything to spend the city's money without even having a cost? That's just basic. Not saying I agree or don't agree. I want the information and I should be able to have that. Um, so I just feel like everyone should think about that. That's a reasonable thing to do is have the cost if you are if you're going to vote yes on something. Next up, um, clarity. I think someone else brought it up. It's okay to get clarity. Um, it's okay to have it in writing. That's that's just perfectly fine when you are voting for something to have clarity on the language and have it in writing. So, I just want to make sure the residents are crystal clear. So, what happened tonight is not twist it all up because again, it's not saying you agree or disagree. It's saying you want things to be in order. You want things to be in writing and you want all the necessary information when you vote for something. Okay? And if anybody's telling you you shouldn't have that, well, that's kind of crazy. You should have it. Um, I want to touch on one thing. Um, I um our pro Tim had talked about the uh city manager evaluation.

Um, I would love clarity on timing. So, throughout my personal experience, when you're evaluated around this time, it's usually for the prior year. So, when you work for a lot of different places, when you're evaluated around March, you normally are being evaluated for the prior year. So, if that is the case, then I would think you should have worked with the city manager the prior year. Now, if that's not the case, I'm sure we'll find out some clarity on that. But if it is the case then it would make sense that if you work with that person the prior year you should evaluate that person. So um maybe somebody can clarify that later for me but that is how um throughout my experience evaluations in March is have always been the prior uh fiscal year. And um moving over to the second ward I still don't have an official date on the calendar for cleanup. I don't want to guess, but hopefully we can get something uh scheduled in May. So, keep an eye out for that. And um I think I've covered all my points. Thank you guys for coming out. And like I said, I stress accurate information, getting receipts, getting proof, not just what someone's saying. And it's not about getting you riled up. It's about getting change done and uh making things happen. Thank you guys and have a great night. to recognize as Commissioner Isam.

Uh, thank you, Honorable Mayor. I just looking at Miss Lula there. She's always been She look at me all the time. [snorts] That's my girl right there. But anyway, thank everyone for coming out tonight. Um, we didn't get the appointment, but you know, we got Gus Macker and And I know I didn't hear you say the Pistons coming. I didn't say I said the extreme like like part of the group was coming. That's the actual pistons.

Okay, that's enough. That's enough. That's enough. The the Eastern Conference champs. [laughter] But yeah, I like think uh the work this commission's doing, you know, it's sometimes it's hard. But long as we can come together, that's the key, you know, uh working together to to come as one. And I think that's where we going. You know sometime we look kind of upset you know disagree to agree but long as we come to the necessary point of coming together and that's where it's going to work you know just like playing on a basketball team. Just pass me the ball. Y'all can't shoot. Pass me the ball.

I'm hot. You know pass it to McInness or something. But uh we a team up here and it's going to take a team effort. It's going to take a team effort to to keep this uh Ben Harour going. You know, we got a lot of road construction, a lot of detours, but the city is continuing to moving forward the right direction cuz we expect great things, working on a finance director, Miss Canar, things are happening. Things are happening. So, God bless you. Thank you for coming tonight. Don't forget to watch Michigan NCA game tonight. It's on right now. Let's get out of here. The chair recognizes Commissioner Henderson.

Good evening. I just like to thank everyone who uh came out tonight and everyone who was online listening. Um there has been a lot said and I agree. If you need clarity on something, you should get clarity. Um but somebody brought up the elephant in the room and I'll just be specific. The elephant in in the room is the $11,000 water bill that one of our commissioners owes on a backwater bill. In light of the fact that the city still owes $820,000 in backwater bills, we met with the Department of Treasury and Eagle and they told us that we need to get our water payments caught up and we need to be able to keep our water plant. We have a $1.2 $2 million deficit that will happen every year moving forward and we have to collect all of that money to make sure that the city runs. We fighting in here about nonsense and it's a real fight happening, a real takeover trying to happen of Benton Harbor when the ambulance company come here and tell you that we got to pay them an additional $150,000 that ain't even budgeted for. And then this commission just passed another resolution for an unbudgeted, unscheduled um payment. The real fight is happening when they trying to take over this city. That's what the real fight is. So I agree. We need to have a retreat and and come together to learn how to run this city together accepting all ideas and all because there's some great changes that need to happen. But if we going to win, we need to stick together cuz the real fight is happening with them trying to come in and take the city. $150,000. Can y'all believe that? for an ambulance expense and then they have the nerve to tell us that our residents use it the most and then we have there's a possibility that they won't even get service. That's what a real fight is. NOT IN HERE CUZ PRETTY MUCH ALL of us ran because we want to better this city

and make it better for our residents. All of us have great ideas, great um contributions to those ideas, but banding those ideas together will be powerful. Not in here. That's not the fight. when other people coming for our city. I remember when they was coming for the school district and to see all of those people show up and show out, they bagged up. They bagged the hell up in the voice of media. They bagged up and the same nonsense is happening in the city coming for the city for that water that we on the Gus Macker is happening in in June in the first ward along that waterfront. That's goal in this community. And I'm talking with passion because I'm angry. Because as long as black people arguing, not getting along, that's fine for MOST FOLKS. THAT'S GOOD for them. It's not good for us. It's not good for us. One thing we didn't do tonight is pay our bills. Miss Sica's bill is on there and a whole lot of other bills is on that on this docket and the Treasury explicitly talked to us about paying our bills. When we looked at the when they presented to us, they presented to us, our debt to income, because we were getting opera funding, it balanced out the the deficits that we had. So, it looked different on paper. But now that is not the case. The real battle was for the soul of Bent Harbor and for Benton Harbor. And for those who don't think that's the case, they love the fact that we don't get along. Love it. But I implore everybody, put your differences aside. It's time to fight for the soul of this city and to fight for this city in a way that it protects

this city from outsiders and from people who are coming in to try to take it. I believe that. I see that. I know that. And I just implore the commu the the city council come together around um ideas that's going to help us grow and help us become who we need to become to save this city. Thank you.

Thank you. Uh just want to um camel back on what Commissioner Henderson discussed uh regarding payments. Uh we had over 1 million actually to we we had 1 million 93,000 $7379 in bills that were not paid. All budgeted. The budget passed. Uh but tonight we had and this is a legal matter because we're supposed to distribute the taxes once we get them. So we at Lake Michigan College their their uh summer distribution taxes they will not get uh the dollar ride their summer distribution taxes they will not get. Uh we may need to report to the treasury that we uh our city attorney will experience a payless payday. uh because her check is on there as well. Uh we have uh uniforms for our public works. Uh we have PAS drinking water sample. Uh we have over $200,000 $248,000 to be exact. uh for water filtration $287,63.71 in water filtration improvement uh project uh that has to be paid Indiana Michigan power we have $27,698 pipstone uh camera uh consolidated bill for water treatment so that's a major issue which we may have to report that we were not able to treat

um which [clears throat] could cause problems with eagle. Uh we've had people buried at the cemetery. Um and we have to pay se management and that's $7,730. Um FNV, our water distribution systems, uh $105,913. Uh, and like I said, these are all budgeted items um that basically we, you know, persons who serve on the board of review who came to faithfully serve and and evaluate that uh part of our tax system. Uh they will not be paid either. Uh so I would just like to take the remainder of my time uh to see if the city council wants to reconsider so we can pay and distribute the taxes which legally we are supposed to distribute uh to the school district to Dollar Ride to Lake Michigan College uh because the tax has come through the city and we send it there. But tonight we voted not to do that. Uh so I'm just going to appeal um to the council and make a motion to pass the accounts payable support.

Okay. Motion is made by Mayor Muhammad. that it is supported by uh Commissioner Isum. Is there discussion? I have a question. Chair recognizes Commissioner I mean I say yes. I promise you I want all 10 emails answered by the city manager by Friday. I want that on the record all 10 outstanding emails concerning my residents to be answered by the city manager by this coming Friday at 12:00 p.m. I keep my cell phone and tab on me 24 hours. Mr. Manager, can you accommodate that?

I'll certainly try to. If you'll resend those to me, I'll make sure and answer. I'll do that in less than 10 minutes. [clears throat] Madame clerk. Oh, chair recognizes Commissioner Clark. My question is point of clarity. How can we make motion when we pass all that? We in the comments. We at the end of the meeting because I can you can make a motion. It was seconded. A motion was made. A second was this is discussion

so and a lot of these we already know a lot of these bills are already paid prepaid people have already gotten their chance too so Commissioner Henry

uh I vote no for AP all the time every time I sit here. I vote no because we're paying people that are not doing good job for us. We're we're we don't ask any questions about whatever the money whoever the money is being paid to. So, I make it a point to vote no. our our policies and procedures don't allow us to take out one person or one item and say, "Oh, no. We don't we we need more information about this contractor. We need more." It doesn't allow us to do that. So, that's the reason why I vote no every session because there's no mechanism for us to fix the finance. So, I voted no. I will consider rescending my no vote if that's the case. But some accountability has to be given to us. We have to know numbers don't lie. People are the ones that tell lies. So when I see something and I can't get an answer or I can't get satisfied with it, I'm going to vote no. And you you think that the rest of them don't see something there, too. We have

close to $200,000 of checks that were paid before it was approved. Now, I don't know if these other I know there's a timeline for taxes and stuff, but they can pay it. They can take it and pay it. Over on close to 200,000 have already been paid out and they didn't ask us. They asking for approval now after the fact. So until you staff give us accounts where we can see where the finance is and where the money is going and who is it going to. You might get this again because it's absolutely surely that you cannot take care of the people's money unless you know where it's going and where it's coming from and who it's going to.

Thank you.

Let me say one more thing. We as an AfricanAmerican in a black town, and I say we're almost black, all completely black, but we have to look out for our own selves. We cannot do anything but pay attention to us first and then go out. That's what the Bible says and I believe it because if you don't take care of the problems that's the the system has put us in we have to change this system and it's easy to change in a small community like Benton Harour that's home rule so residents come on we need your input we can't do it all by ourselves thank you

Commissioner Fields.

Um yeah, my no was for the for similar reasons, right? And um being allowed time to look over things and then mayor, I don't recall um the line items for, you know, your trip or whatnot um being there and maybe I missed it. Um but knowing where the money and dollars are spent, which um Commissioner Warren referenced, and not voting on money being moved, like we were going to do what 1.7 million without having line items per the city manager stating that we need to move the money, but there hadn't been line items as to what the money was going to be spent on. you had already approved 450 and 800 prior to us coming on and then we said no because we wanted line items from those previous other times as well as the time we were just asked to vote and I can recall commissioner um Henderson saying when the 800,000 was being asked for that she was you know cancelling her meeting for him to come in to discuss provide information that didn't even happen. But it was this this call like our mayor is doing right now where he showed up at different committee meetings that he doesn't normally do to act and promote and explain that other communities, you know, utilize the income tax fund. It needs to be transparency. It needs to be transparency. Um we need to not be trying to tear apart each other. We keep saying that, but then we steady doing that.

We steady doing that. the whole comment time is to to demean or to to talk about somebody else. 70,000 if it could be that much for a audit versus 800,000 that you don't even know what was going to use for and you voted yes. Like let's you can you do your question again, but we need to do better. Madame Clerk, Commissioner Henderson, are we voting to close the debate or we voting for on the item? We are voting on the item which is to the A to vote on the AP. Yes. Commissioner Henry, yes. Commissioner Isum, yes. Commissioner Canard

to vote on this item. Yes. Yes. Commissioner Warren. Yes. Commissioner Clark Griffin, no. Commissioner Fields, yes. Mayor Bertim Turner, yes. We as well with my 10 emails answer by Friday at noon. Mayor Muhammad, yes. Motion carried. Is there a motion to adjurnn? Yes. Motion second. Motion made by Commissioner Henderson. It is second by Commissioner Fields. Madame Clerk. Commissioner Clark Griffin. Yes. Commissioner Fields. Yes. Commissioner Henderson. Yes. Commissioner Henry, yes. Commissioner Isam, yes. Commissioner Canard, yes. Commissioner Warren, yes.